158 THE KEEPERS BOOK 



of corn judiciously planted in the most desirable places 

 is the best method of supplying food. It is an ill wind 

 that blows nobody any good, and at such a time the 

 keeper may be in a position to judge of the number of 

 old cocks left on the moor. Their greed will be easily 

 discernible, and an apparently mean advantage might 

 be taken to rid the moor of these voracious, ill-mannered, 

 domineering tyrants. It is a practice recognised by 

 all experienced poachers, and it is well that keepers 

 should learn from the skill of law-breakers. There is 

 much to be learnt from rogues and vagabonds. 



6. Introduction of New Blood. The evil effects of 

 interbreeding must be remembered, and there is much 

 to be said in favour of the occasional introduction of 

 new blood, either by interchange with other owners, 

 or, in Scotland, by the purchase of Yorkshire grouse 

 and vice versa. In putting down the new birds, the 

 long feathers of a wing may be clipped or the outside 

 long feathers may be soaped, which also keeps the birds 

 from flying for eight or ten days, unless the weather is 

 very wet. The most satisfactory method, however, is 

 to pull two or three of the outside feathers off each 

 wing. This keeps the birds on the moor for four or 

 five weeks, till they get accustomed to their surround- 

 ings, and take up with the other birds. The new birds 

 when they begin to fly, can generally be noticed in a 

 pack by being behind and having a more laboured 

 action in flight. Unless the birds by some method 

 are kept on the moor, their usual tendency is a hom- 



